Best Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots (Recipe + VIDEO)
Hearty and delicious cowboy casserole is loaded with ground beef, Rotel chiles, beans and cheese, all topped with tater tots and baked to crisp, golden perfection. It's easy to make ahead and great to feed a crowd!
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set out a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and spray with cooking spray.
Set a large sauté pan over medium heat. Place the chopped bacon in the pan. Stir and fry the bacon for 3-5 minutes to brown. Then add in the ground beef. Chop the ground beef into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Then stir in the onions, garlic, chili powder, and salt. Stir and cook the meat mixture until the ground beef is cooked through and the onions are soft.
Stir in the Rotel, kidney beans, frozen corn, shredded cheese, and cream cheese cubes.
Scoop the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out into an even layer.
Arrange the tater tots over the surface of the meat mixture. You can do this in straight lines or create a pattern with the tater tots.
Bake the casserole for 40-50 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly around the edges, the tater tots are gold-brown, and a knife inserted into the center of the casserole comes out HOT.
Once out of the oven, sprinkle chopped green onions over the top of the casserole. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
Make Ahead Tips: Tater tot cowboy casserole with ground beef is terrific to make ahead! Cook the filling and assemble the entire dish, then freeze or refrigerate to bake later. I suggest using an aluminum disposable pan or other freezer-to-oven safe baking dish.To freeze, wrap the casserole dish in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by one or two layers of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months, and thaw in the fridge overnight before baking.Or, you can put together the casserole, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge for a day or two.How to Store Leftovers: Baked cowboy casserole leftovers will keep well for up to 3 days. Let it cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the fridge.I don't suggest freezing the casserole after it has baked. Tots that are frozen, baked, frozen again, and baked again tend to lose their crispness.